Music

Scott Burns, M.M.

About

Mr. Scott Burns is the Jazz Ensemble Director at Loyola University Chicago and the Instructor of Applied Jazz Saxophone.

Mr. Burns earned his B.M. degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, graduating at the top of his class. After graduating, Scott became an in-demand player in the greater Cincinnati/Dayton area. Performance credits include regular appearances as both leader and sideman at the landmark Blue Wisp Jazz Club, performances with powerhouse drummer John von Ohlen & the Blue Wisp Big Band, the PsychoAcoustic Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.

Mr. Burns moved to Chicago to attend DePaul University, where he obtained his M.M. degree. While playing with DePaul’s award-winning jazz ensemble, he was a prominently featured soloist alongside legendary jazz performers Joe Lovano, Tom Harrell, Kenny Werner, Louis Bellson and Nicholas Payton, and received an outstanding soloist award from Down Beat magazine in 1999.

As an established member of the Chicago jazz scene, Scott frequently shares the stage with veteran Chicago jazz musicians, including Ron Perrillo, Jeff Parker, George Fludas, Dana Hall, Kelly Sill, Paulinho Garcia, Jodie Christian, and others. He performs with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra under the direction of the Jeff Lindberg, whose recent concerts have featured jazz masters Ahmad Jamal and McCoy Tyner, saxophonists Eric Alexander, Von Freeman and Charles McPherson, vocalists Judy Roberts and Kurt Elling, and LUC music faculty pianist Anthony Molinaro. He has toured nationally, playing select dates with legendary singer Harry Connick Jr., as well as with the jazz/blues/soul band the Mighty Blue Kings, headlining major festivals & venues including JVC Jazz Fest, Newport Jazz Fest, the House of Blues, Chicago Blues Festival, and others. Recently, he has appeared at the Chicago Jazz Festival with guitarist Jeff Parker, at Symphony Center and Jay Pritzker Pavilion with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, and the Jazz Showcase with Neal Alger’s Blue Note Quartet.

Mr. Burns has been a guest soloist and/or clinician at the University of Cincinnati, University of Illinois, Bowling Green University, and Bloomington North H.S., performing at the 2008 MENC Convention in Chicago. He has also taught at Columbia College Chicago, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Chicago chapter, and the Northwestern University High School Music Institute summer program, as well as maintaining a private teaching studio.

Scott’s debut CD as a leader, Passages, was released on Origin Records and features his original compositions. The recording has received critical acclaim both locally and nationally, and has been broadcasted across the nation. He can currently be seen and heard performing at festivals and venues throughout the Midwest region.

Degrees

M.M., Jazz Studies, DePaul UniversityB.M., Jazz and Studio Music, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music